Koharu burst through the door, her chest heaving.
She slammed it shut behind her—thud!—then staggered a few steps forward before collapsing to her knees.
Tears streamed down her face, silent at first, but then—
"I love him…!"
Her voice cracked through the empty room like a shattering glass.
She pressed her hands to her face, trembling, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I didn't even know it at first. At the entrance ceremony, when I saw him fight for the first time… the way he stood, the way he protected others—something in me just—"
She choked on her breath, her heart pounding against her ribs like a drum.
"I fell in love without even realizing it. And now…"
She hugged herself tightly.
"He doesn't feel the same."
She leaned her back against the door, tears sliding down her cheeks as her voice dropped to a whisper.
"But even now… I can't stop loving him."
Her hands clenched into fists over her heart.
"It hurts…"
She looked up toward the ceiling, as if hoping someone—anyone—could take the pain away.
"But I'd rather love him and hurt… than never have loved him at all."
Midnight Sun Hero Guild – Rooftop, Moments Later
Ash stood under the moonlight, the weight of the god's words still pressing on his chest.
Then—
The god raised a hand.
"From this moment… your training begins."
Ash's eyes narrowed. "Training? For what?"
A new voice echoed behind them.
"You'll find out soon enough."
The god gazed down at him with eyes that saw through time.
"You were not born to be weak," the god said. "You were not born to follow."
Ash looked up, broken but burning with something deeper—something ancient.
"Then who am I?" he whispered.
The god stepped forward and placed a hand over Ash's chest.
"You are Ash Kurogane now. But your soul… it remembers another name. A name that once shattered empires and silenced gods."
Ash's eyes widened, tears trembling at the edge.
"I don't want to become a monster."
"You won't," the god said gently. "You will become necessary."
Behind the god, a sword appeared in the air, glowing faintly — the blade that once belonged to the warrior king he used to be.
The god spoke again.
"From this day forward, your training begins. Rise, Ash Kurogane… the world awaits your return."
Ash clenched his fists. The fear didn't vanish — but it was no longer in control.
"I'm ready."
The stars above shimmered as if bearing witness.
Koharu Room
Koharu said it again, softer this time.
"…Nothing happened."
Misaki didn't believe her.
She stepped closer, watching Koharu's trembling hands and the way her eyes avoided hers. The silence between them felt heavier than words.
"Koharu…" Misaki's voice was gentle now. "You don't have to lie. Not to me."
Koharu's lips parted, but no words came out. Her eyes welled up. She bit her lower lip hard, like she was trying to hold something in—something sharp, something heavy.
Misaki placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Please talk to me…"
And just like that—Koharu broke.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as her knees gave out, and she sank to the floor. Misaki dropped with her, holding her as tightly as she could.
"I told him I loved him…" Koharu whispered, voice shaking. "And he said no…"
Misaki's heart sank. She hugged her tighter.
"I thought… maybe… maybe there was a chance. But he said… he doesn't feel the same."
Koharu's voice cracked, her chest heaving with sobs.
"I didn't want to cry. I told myself I'd be strong. But it hurts, Misaki… it really hurts."
Misaki rested her head gently against Koharu's, whispering like a sister.
"It's okay to cry. It means your heart's real. It means you cared."
Koharu buried her face into Misaki's shoulder.
"Why wasn't I enough?"
"You are," Misaki said firmly. "You are enough. You're more than enough. He just… didn't see it."
They sat there together, in silence and tears.
"I don't want to be alone anymore…"
"You're not alone," Misaki said softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "I'm here. I'll always be here, Koharu."
The rain began to fall gently outside the window. And in that quiet, broken moment… two hearts stayed close, holding each other in the silence, reminding one another that even in pain, they still mattered.
And for the first time in days… Koharu let someone hold her pain.
Training Grounds – Late Afternoon
Sweat glistened on Kaien's skin as he trained under the harsh sun, his sword swinging with power and precision. Every move was like poetry in motion—strong, deliberate, and sharp. From a short distance away, Rei stood still, eyes locked on him.
Kaien paused, sensing the gaze.
He turned. "...You've been staring at me for a while."
Rei blinked, startled. "W-What? No, I wasn't."
Kaien raised an eyebrow. "You were. Is something on your mind?"
Rei looked away quickly, cheeks burning. "I'm not a girl or something! Don't think I was watching you like that."
Kaien chuckled, amused. "Relax. I wasn't accusing you of falling in love."
Rei huffed, folding his arms. "I was just… analyzing your form. That's all."
"Sure," Kaien said, walking toward him with a small smirk. "Then tell me what you learned."
Rei swallowed. "That you waste too much energy with every swing."
Kaien laughed. "Now you're just trying to save face."
"I don't need to save anything!" Rei snapped, but his ears turned red.
Kaien grinned. "Alright then. Let's spar. Prove your eyes aren't just for watching."
Rei stepped forward, annoyed but also excited. "Fine. But don't cry when I beat you."
Kaien smirked. "Let's see if you can even land a hit."
The scent of dust and sweat filled the air.
Rei tightened his grip on the wooden training sword. The field was quiet except for the distant chirping of insects and the rhythmic sound of footsteps—Kaien's. He stood across from Rei, relaxed, composed, as if this was just another ordinary spar.
But for Rei, it wasn't.
The sun dipped low behind them, casting long shadows across the field. The sky above burned in a mix of crimson and gold—like a battlefield painted in fire.
Kaien's voice broke the silence. Calm. Controlled.
"Your stance is too rigid," he said. "Relax, Rei."
Rei's jaw clenched.
"Stop lecturing me!" he snapped, and lunged forward.
His swing was wild—desperate.
With a whisper of movement, Kaien sidestepped and knocked the blade from Rei's hands. The wooden sword clattered to the ground. Rei stumbled forward, his knees hitting the dirt.
Humiliated.
Kaien didn't gloat. He just stood there, still holding his sword.
"You're fighting like you're angry," he said. "That's why you lose."
Rei looked up, eyes filled with frustration. His voice trembled with heat.
"Of course I'm angry! You're always ahead of me. You move like you know everything… like I'll never catch up."
A pause.
Kaien's expression shifted—no longer a rival, but something gentler. Older. Wiser.
"I trained alone every night for years," he said. "I bled. I broke bones. I cried so quietly no one would hear. That's how I got here."
Rei froze.
He hadn't expected that.
"You want strength?" Kaien continued, stepping closer. "Then stop fighting me—and start fighting yourself. That part of you that doubts too much… that gives up too quickly."
The words cut deeper than any sword.
Rei lowered his gaze, fists trembling. A breath caught in his throat.
"…I hate how you always make sense," he muttered.
A soft chuckle escaped Kaien.
"Then prove me wrong," he said. "Hit me once. Just once. And I'll admit you've grown."
Rei picked up his sword. This time, not with anger.
But with resolve.
Their eyes met under the fading sun.
The wooden blades clashed once more—louder than before, echoing into the twilight.
And somewhere deep within, Rei began to change.
Ash blinked—and the world changed.
One moment, he stood in the quiet temple hall. The next, he was falling.
Wind howled past his ears. The sky twisted around him, forming spirals of gold and black. Time felt warped, space distorted.
Then—stillness.
Ash landed on something soft. A floating island? A realm with no sky, no ground—only stars and silence.
He stood, dazed, eyes wide. This wasn't Earth. Not even close.
A voice echoed around him—calm, ancient, unshakable.
"So, you've finally come."
Ash turned.
There stood a man—no, not a man. Something beyond. Clad in flowing white with silver eyes that saw through souls. A radiant presence, both terrifying and comforting.
God.
"You're… you're going to train me?" Ash asked, breath shallow.
The divine being nodded. But before he could answer—
A shimmer appeared beside him.
Another figure stepped forward.
Kaien.
Ash's eyes widened.
"You too?" he whispered.
Kaien didn't speak—he simply gave a small nod, stepping into place beside the god.
Then—both of them spoke at once, their voices overlapping like thunder and wind:
"Your training begins now."
Ash's heart pounded.
He didn't understand where he was.
Or why this was happening.
But he knew one thing.
The path ahead would not be easy.
And the boy named Ash…
Would never be the same again.